4 Press Trip Trends You Need to Know About

The good, the bad, and the ugly lowdown on solo and group press trips

Hello friends,

Greetings from New York, where lilacs, tulips, cherry blossoms, and magnolias are in full bloom and everybody I know is trying to get me to swipe them as the plus one with my botanical garden membership. :)

Last week, I wrote a really popular newsletter about being offered $2500 for a press trip that I also posted about on LinkedIn. The posts got about 13,000 views and even spawned some copycats trying to raise their profile by throwing shade my way.

Clearly, there’s a lot of interest in press trips, so I’m thrilled to announce my next online event that will dig all up into them!

Cassandra

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What Travel Writers are Saying About Press Trips

Yesterday, I made another popular LinkedIn post sharing some interesting press trip learnings from a call I had with 5 travel writer colleagues. Even more travel writers chimed in with their two cents, so if you want to know what we’re thinking, check out that post!

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

“I only do group trips because I don’t want to deal with the back and forth of solo trips.”

“I only do solo press trips because group press trips are so packed with bullshit.”

“I don’t work with tourism boards since they’re ineffective and bad at their job.”

“Press trips aren't “free” – there are other economic costs there.”

As you can see, there’s a lot of discontent with press trips, and in some cases, travel writers have very different opinions and preferences (some hate group trips while others prefer them). What’s a press trip coordinator to do? Well, I’ll tell you…

Join My Free Press Trip Trends Event!

Struggling to fill your press trips? Learn what top-tier journalists actually look for—and how to pitch them trips they can’t resist.

Event Description:

You're spending time, energy, and money crafting and running press trips—so why are your invitations going unanswered?

In “4 Press Trip Trends You Need to Know About,” travel writer, guidebook author, and former international tour leader, Cassandra Brooklyn, reveals current press trip trends, along with the essential elements that make or break a press trip and press trip pitch.

Whether you're hosting group tours or solo media visits, this session will uncover what seasoned journalists really want, how to stand out in a crowded inbox, and how to design experiences that get booked—and get written about.

This 45-minute session is perfect for tourism boards, PR professionals, and tour operators who are tired of ghosted emails and half-filled trips.

What to Expect:

• Learn why it’s harder than ever to get journalists on board—and what to do about it

• Learn what experienced writers actually look for in a press trip

• Get expert tips for crafting irresistible invitations

• Discover how to balance structure and flexibility in your itinerary

• Real talk: Learn what makes a trip feel like a waste of time to a journalist

• Live Q&A with Cassandra Brooklyn

Best of all…it’s FREE…for all of my paid subscribers, that is. My paid Substack newsletter is a crucial part of my income, and I could not afford to craft these posts or run these events without your support. Subscriptions start at $9, so if you believe that being able to fill your press trip is worth $9, this one’s for you!

There’s one week left to get a free annual subscription to my newsletter, which will also give you access to this event. Learn more here.

4 Press Trip Trends Event

Date & Time:

📅 Wednesday, May 7, 2025

🕐 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM (ET)

💻 Virtual via Zoom

Follow the link below to register and to submit questions in advance for me to cover on the call. Once you’re registered, you’ll receive the link to the call.